Overview
Brand name:
Product:
- electric guitars
Series name:
Dates of manufacture:
1980 to 1981
Kramer's Gene Simmons Axe guitar and bass were both designed as replicas of an Old English Executioner Axe. Despite the unusual design they were equipped with standard Kramer hardware, forged aluminum neck and polyester finish. Kramer planned to make 1000 of these instruments but the actual number made is probably less than 500 during 1980-1981 - so these are highly collectible instruments. They should have a Gene Simmons signature and serial number on the axe blade under the clear coat.
Both guitar and bass came with a single pickup and single volume and tone control - although there is a two pickup version shown in the July 1981 edition of Guitar Player - possibly a later example.
Specifications (20)
Body
Body material | ash body, maple body |
Body style | axe shaped body |
Hardware
Bridge | Schaller fixed bridge |
Hardware color | chrome hardware |
Tuners | Schaller tuners |
Fretboard
Fingerboard material | ebonol fingerboard |
Fingerboard position markers | dot fingerboard position markers |
General
Finish colors | black finish, silver finish |
Finish material | polyester finish |
Graphics | signature on body |
Number of strings | 6 strings |
Neck
Neck joint | bolt on neck |
Neck material | aluminum neck |
Number of frets | 24 fret |
Peghead (headstock) | forked headstock |
Tuner layout | three-each-side |
Electronics
Pickups brand and model | DiMarzio pickup(s) |
Pickups configuration | 1 humbucker pickup |
Controls
Tone controls | 1 tone control |
Volume controls | 1 volume control |
Prices (3)
Date | Price | Condition | Name | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
1981 | €3000 | excellent | Alex | Nr 66 of 1000 |
1980 | $499 | new | ||
2018 | €8250 | good | Toewi |